Communication of wireless signals through physical barriers

ABSTRACT

A system for transmitting and receiving wireless signals through a physical barrier, such as walls or windows, to wireless computing devices that are located internal to a structure that is formed in part by the physical barrier. The wireless signals are millimeter waveforms with gigahertz frequencies that are communicated with 5G communication protocols by one or more remote base station nodes located external to the physical barrier. One or more external antennas are configured to communicate RF wireless signals with HMA waveforms to remote wireless base station. In one or more embodiments, the RF wireless signals are amplified and communicated bi-statically through the window barrier between customer premises equipment and an authorized remote wireless base station.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Utility Patent application based on previouslyfiled U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/645,004 filed onMar. 19, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/730,497 filed on Sep. 12, 2018, the benefits of which are claimedunder 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), and the contents of which are each furtherincorporated in entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates generally to employing one or more antennas placedon an exterior surface of a barrier, such as a window of a structure, toimprove wireless communications between a radio system outside thebarrier and a user device inside the barrier. Further, in someembodiments, the antenna is wirelessly coupled to an amplifier placed onan interior surface of the barrier that enables wireless communicationwith a user located within the structure.

BACKGROUND

Mobile devices have become the primary mode of wireless communicationfor the vast majority of people worldwide. In the first few generationsof wireless communication networks, mobile devices were generally usedfor voice communication, text messages, and somewhat limited internetaccess. Newer generations of wireless communication networks haveincreased bandwidth and lowered latency enough to provide substantiallymore services to mobile device users, such as purchasing products,paying invoices, streaming movies, playing video games, online learning,dating, and more. Also, for each new generation of wirelesscommunication network, the frequency and strength of the wirelesssignals are generally increased to provide even more bandwidth with lesslatency.

Unfortunately, the higher a frequency of a wireless signal, the greaterthe attenuation of wireless signals passing through physical barrierssuch as glass windows or walls of a structure. Moreover, since therecent rollout of 5^(th) generation (5G) wireless communication networksthat can use wireless signals with millimeter waveforms at gigahertzfrequencies, it has become even more difficult to provide access tothese 5G wireless networks for mobile devices located behind physicalbarriers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shown an embodiment of an exemplary surface scattering antennawith multiple varactor elements arranged to propagate electromagneticwaves in such a way as to form an exemplary instance of holographicmetasurface antennas (HMA);

FIG. 1B shows a representation of one embodiment of a synthetic arrayillustrating a reference waveform and a hologram waveform (modulationfunction) that in combination provide an object waveform ofelectromagnetic waves;

FIG. 1C shows an embodiment of an exemplary modulation function for anexemplary surface scattering antenna;

FIG. 1D shows an embodiment of an exemplary beam of electromagneticwaves generated by the modulation function of FIG. 1C;

FIG. 2A shows a top view of an embodiment of an exemplary environment,including an arrangement of a network operations center, wireless signalbase station, network and multiple structures, in which variousembodiments of the invention may be implemented;

FIG. 2B shows a side view of another embodiment of an exemplaryarrangement of multiple instances of HMAs;

FIG. 2C shows a top view of yet another embodiment of an exemplaryarrangement of multiple instances of HMAs;

FIG. 2D illustrates a schematic view of a wireless signal base stationcommunicating with one or more HMAs disposed on an outside surface of awindow of a structure and the wireless signals are communicated, byelectronic components disposed on an inside surface of the window of thestructure, to a customer premises equipment device disposed inside thestructure and which communicates the wireless signals to one or morewireless computing devices;

FIG. 2E shows a schematic view of a wireless signal base stationcommunicating with one or more HMAs disposed on an inside surface of awindow of a structure and the wireless signals are communicated, byelectronic components disposed on the inside surface of the window, to acustomer premises equipment device disposed inside the structure andwhich communicates the wireless signals to one or more wirelesscomputing devices disposed inside the structure;

FIG. 2F illustrates a schematic view of a wireless signal base stationcommunicating with one or more HMAs disposed on an exterior surface of awindow of a structure and the wireless signals are communicated, byelectronic components disposed on the exterior surface of the window, toa customer premises equipment device disposed inside the structure andwhich communicates the wireless signal to one and one or more wirelesscomputing devices disposed inside the structure;

FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of an exemplary computer device that may beincluded in a system such as that shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment of an exemplary client computer devicethat may be included in a system such as that shown in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3C shows an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for an RFcommunication device that is separate from a customer premises equipmentdevice(s);

FIG. 3D illustrates an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for an Rfcommunication device that includes a customer premises equipmentdevice(s);

FIG. 3E shows an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for a bistaticamplifier that is employed by an RF communication device;

FIG. 3F illustrates an embodiment of a configuration of external antenna392 formed from an HMA that provides separate vertical and horizontalpolarization for both uplink and downlink RF signals;

FIG. 3G shows an embodiment of a configuration of external antenna 393formed from an HMA that provides combined vertical and horizontalpolarization for both uplink and downlink RF signals;

FIG. 3H illustrates an embodiment of a configuration of external antenna394 formed from patch antennas that provide combined vertical andhorizontal polarization and combined uplink and downlink communicationfor RF signals;

FIG. 3I shows an embodiment of RF isolation spacer that may isolate andreduce coupling between the upload and download RF wireless signalscommunicated by one or more patch antennas positioned in ports through abarrier such as glass;

FIG. 3J illustrates a representation of a gain versus angle relationshipfor the external antenna when using a radome, a radome with WAIM, and noradome;

FIG. 3K shows an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for abidirecational amplifier that is employed by an RF communication device;

FIG. 4A illustrates an embodiment of a logical flow diagram for anexemplary method of employing HMAs to communicate 5G wireless signalsthrough a window of a structure and broadcast those 5G wireless signalsto one or more wireless computing devices inside the structure;

FIG. 4B shows an embodiment of a logic flow diagram for an exemplarymethod of employing a value of the power of an upload RF signal todetect when a CPE is communicating remotely with a wireless base stationthat is authorized for communication with the CPE;

FIG. 5 shows a top view of an embodiment of an exemplary environment,including an arrangement of a network operations center and a wirelesssignal base station in communication with relay HMA devices, reflectorHMA devices, base station proxy HMA devices, and user HMA devices;

FIG. 6A illustrates a reflector HMA device that employs a first HMA tocommunicate by HMA waveforms with one or more of relay HMA devices, basestation HMA devices, or base station proxy HMA devices and a second HMAarranged to communicate by HMA waveforms with one or more user HMAdevices;

FIG. 6B illustrates a reflector HMA device that employs a first HMA tocommunicate by HMA waveforms with one or more relay HMA devices, basestation HMA devices, or base station proxy HMA devices and a second HMAarranged perpendicular to the first HMA to avoid occlusion of one ormore HMA waveform communicated to one or more user HMA devices;

FIG. 7A illustrates a relay HMA device that employs a first HMA tocommunicate by HMA waveforms with one or more of other relay HMAdevices, base station HMA devices, or base station proxy HMA devices anda second HMA to communicate by HMA waveforms with one or more otherrelay HMA devices, reflector HMA devices, or user HMA devices;

FIG. 7B illustrates a relay HMA device that employs a first HMA tocommunicate by HMA waveforms with one or more of other relay HMAdevices, base station HMA devices, or base station proxy HMA devices anda second HMA arranged perpendicular to the first HMA to avoid occlusionof one or more HMA waveforms communicated to one or more other relay HMAdevices, reflector HMA devices, or user HMA devices;

FIG. 8A illustrates a base station proxy HMA device that employs a firstHMA to communicate by HMA waveforms with one or more of other relay HMAdevices, base station HMA devices, or base station proxy HMA devices;and a second HMA to communicate by HMA waveforms with one or more otherrelay HMA devices, reflector HMA devices, or user HMA devices;

FIG. 8B illustrates a base station proxy device that employs a first HMAto communicate with a relay device, a base station, or a base stationproxy device and a second HMA arranged perpendicular to the first HMA toavoid occlusion of one or more HMA waveforms communicated to one or moreother relay HMA devices, reflector HMA devices, or user HMA devices;

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a logical flow diagram for anexemplary method of employing different types of HMA devices tocommunicate by HMA waveforms through a network fabric to one or morewireless computing devices communicating with an HMA user device thatprovides 5G wireless communication for wireless communication devices;and

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a logic flow diagram for an exemplarymethod of passively monitoring when the customer premises equipment isin communication with an authorized remote wireless base station inaccordance with one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, andwhich show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments by which theinvention may be practiced. This invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Amongother things, the present invention may be embodied as methods ordevices. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of anentirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects. The followingdetailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take themeanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. The phrase “in one embodiment” as used herein doesnot necessarily refer to the same embodiment, though it may. Similarly,the phrase “in another embodiment” as used herein does not necessarilyrefer to a different embodiment, though it may. As used herein, the term“or” is an inclusive “or” operator, and is equivalent to the term“and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “basedon” is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factorsnot described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Inaddition, throughout the specification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and“the” include plural references. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and“on.”

The following briefly describes the embodiments of the invention inorder to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention.This brief description is not intended as an extensive overview. It isnot intended to identify key or critical elements, or to delineate orotherwise narrow the scope. Its purpose is merely to present someconcepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detaileddescription that is presented later.

Briefly stated, various embodiments of the invention are directed to amethod, apparatus, or a system that employs an electronic RFcommunication device that provides for the communication of radiofrequency (RF) wireless signals through a physical barrier, such aswalls or windows, between one or more remote wireless base stations andone or more customer premises equipment (CPE) devices and/or otherwireless computing devices located behind the physical barrier. In oneor more embodiments, the RF wireless signals are millimeter waveformscommunicated at gigahertz frequencies that are communicated with 5^(th)Generation (5G) communication protocols by one or more remote wirelessbase station nodes located external to the one or more wirelesscomputing devices located behind the physical barrier.

In one or more embodiments, the RF communication device includes one ormore external (externally facing) antennas that communicate upload anddownload RF wireless signals with remotely located wireless basestations and one or more internal antennas (internally facing) thatcommunicate the upload and download RF wireless signals with the CPE.

Also, in one or more embodiments, one or more amplifiers may include abi-static amplifier that simultaneously provides continuous separatelyselectable gains to upload RF wireless signals and download RF wirelesssignals. The bi-static amplifier may be configured to employ separateupload and download amplifiers to separately provide a separatelyselectable gain to the upload RF wireless signal as it is radiated bythe exterior antenna and another separately selectable gain to thedownload RF wireless signal as it is radiated by the interior antenna tothe CPE.

Also, in yet other embodiments, the one or more amplifiers may include abi-directional amplifier that provides separately selectable gains tothe upload and download RF wireless signals by timing continuousswitching between components employed in a common communication path forthe upload and download RF wireless signals. The continuous switchingmay be staggered to provide isolation of the upload and download RFwireless signals while sharing the common communication path. In one ormore embodiments, RF couplers (e.g., patch antennas, glass fieldcouplers, or the like), are configured to communicate the download andupload RF wireless signals through the barrier to provide acommunication channel when the one or more exterior antennas are locatedon an exterior surface of the barrier and one or more internal antennasare located on an interior surface of the barrier.

In one or more embodiments, the customer premises equipment (CPE) may beany terminal device and/or associated communication equipment located ata customer's location and/or premises and can provide communication overone or more telecommunication channels provided by a telecommunicationcarrier. The CPE is typically established at a location in a structureseparate from other communication equipment provided by a carrier orsome other communication service provider. The CPE may include one ormore IP telephones, mobile phones, routers, network switches,residential gateways, set top television boxes, home network adapters,or the like.

Additionally, in one or more embodiments, when a bi-static amplifier isemployed to provide continuous and separate gain to the upload RFwireless signal, changes in a strength (value) of the power of theupload RF signal can be monitored to determine when the CPE iscommunicating with an authorized remote wireless base station. In one ormore embodiments, an RF power detector circuit may be employed tocontinuously measure a value of the power output of the upload RFsignal. A greater the strength (value) of the RF power for the RF uploadwireless signals in the presence of download RF wireless signals, thegreater a likelihood that the CPE is currently communicating with anauthorized wireless base station.

In one or more embodiments, the bi-static download amplifiercontinuously amplifies and radiates received radio frequency signalsfrom any remote wireless base station to the CPE, which is unaware ofthe presence of the RF communication device. In this case, the CPEresponds with an upload RF wireless signal to just those download RFwireless signals that were radiated by a remote wireless base stationthat is authorized for communication with that particular CPE. However,in one or more other embodiments, when the CPE is either aware of orincorporated into the RF communication device, the CPE could providefeedback as to a quality of the download RF signal which could beemployed to optimize a gain of the download RF signal.

Additionally, in one or more embodiments, one or more thresholds orrange of thresholds may be employed to determine when a value/strengthof the measured RF power output is sufficient to indicate currentcommunication between the CPE and an authorized remote wireless basestation.

Also, in one or more embodiments, the one or more amplifiers may belocated on an exterior side of the barrier, on an interior side of thebarrier, or split between the exterior and interior sides of thebarrier. Also, in one or more embodiments, no gain may be provided forthe download RF signal and/or the upload RF signal when the CPE isdirectly integrated with the RF communication device.

In one or more embodiments, the CPE is directly integrated and combinedwith the RF communication device. The integration of the CPE with the RFcommunication device may reduce power consumption, number of electroniccomponents, decrease cost, and increase reliability.

In one or more embodiments, the CPE may directly communicate the uploadRF signals with the external antenna (when integrated together with theRF communication device). Also, in one or more embodiments, the RFcommunication device may relay the communicate RF signals to anothercommunication device disposed inside a structure that further relays theRF signals to the CPE.

In one or more embodiments, the CPE may transform the communicated RFsignals into other RF signals that employ one or more other wirelesscommunication protocols which are compatible with one or more wirelesscommunication devices, (e.g., mobile devices) that are disposed inside astructure, behind a barrier, or within a vehicle. Additionally, in oneor more embodiments, the CPE may transform the communicated wirelesssignals into wired signals that are communicated to one or more wireddevices disposed behind the barrier, or inside the structure. Thesewired signals may be communicated in any wired communication protocol tothe one or more wired devices, including ethernet, coaxial cable,infrared, optical fiber, or the like.

Additionally, in one or more embodiments, one or more internal antennasare provided to communicate the wireless signals inside the structure toone or more CPEs that are not integrated into the RF communicationdevice. Further, in one or more embodiments, one or more CPEs may beprovided to boost, provide, and/or repeat the RF wireless signalscommunicated by the RF communication device's one or more internalantennas using any wireless or wired communication protocols.

Also, in one or more embodiments, depending on a level of theintegration of the CPE with the RF communication device, one or more ofthe RF couplers, one or more amplifiers, and/or internal antennas may beeliminated from the RF communication device. The integration of the CPEwith the RF communication device may improve reliability and reducephysical size, component complexity, and/or cost by eliminatingredundant functionality and components.

In one or more embodiments, all or most of the components for the RFcommunication device (optionally the CPE too) may be disposed on theexterior surface of the barrier, the interior surface of the barrier, orsplit between the interior and exterior surfaces of the barrier. Each ofthese different configurations of the RF communication device and theCPE are discussed below and shown in regard to FIGS. 2D, 2E and 2F.

Additionally, an advantage of one or more embodiments of the exemplaryRF communication device is to not digitize the upload and download RFsignals (analog signals) that are provided to the CPE. Instead, theupload and download RF signals are kept intact in the analog domainduring communication between the one or more remote wireless signal basestations and the CPE. By not having to perform digital signal processingon the analog RF signals communicated between the remote wireless basestations and the CPEs, cost, component complexity, and energyconsumption can be reduced. It is a noteworthy advantage that the one ormore embodiments of the RF communication device do not require analog todigital converters, digital signal processors, digital components,frequency processors, or the like to communicate the upload and downloadRF wireless signals between the remote wireless base stations and theCPE.

Additionally, although not shown, one or more of the embodiments of theRF communication device may also be applied to other types of barriersthan windows, such as walls made of one or more types of materials,e.g., wood, concrete, composite materials, and metal. For these otherembodiments used with other types of barriers, the RF couplers may beemploy one or more different types of technology including, near fielddevices, induction devices, or the like, to communicate the RF signalsthrough one or more barriers.

In one or more embodiments, a location device may be included in the RFcommunication device. The location device may include a gyroscope,accelerometer, GPS device, and the like to detect an orientation,movement, and/or location of the communication device.

In one or more embodiments, a wireless interface may be included in theRF communication device to communicate with an analysis and controlapplication executing on a wireless device, such as a mobile phone,tablet, or notebook computer, which is employed by an authorized user(e.g., customer, administrator or technician) physically positioned near(local) to the RF communication device. The wireless interface mayprovide communication employing one or more different wirelesscommunication protocols, such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, WiFi,or the like. Further, in one or more embodiments, the application mayprovide different types of information regarding the operation of thecommunication device, metrics, notifications, troubleshooting tips,software updates, strength of upload and download RF signal, alerts,restart controls, RF signal scanning controls, user permissions,metrics, or the like.

In one or more embodiments, components of the external antenna may beprotected with a protective cover, such as a radome, is employed. In oneor more embodiments, the radome is formed of a material that enablescommunication of RF signals without a significant reduction in gain,such as plastic, fiberglass, resin, composite materials, or the like.Further, in one or more embodiments, a wide angle impedance match (WAIM)material may be incorporated with the radome to improve a range of phaseangles at which the external antenna may provide gain to communicated RFsignals. In one or more embodiments, the WAIM material may be positionedon an inside surface and/or an outside surface of the radome. Further,in one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the radome may beformed from the WAIM material itself. See a representation of the gainversus angle relationship for radome, radome with WAIM, and no radome inFIG. 3J.

In one or more embodiments, when separate arrays of two to four patchantennas are positioned on opposite sides of a glass window are employedas an RF coupler for the communication device, the exterior arrays ofpatch antennas for upload and download RF signals may be physicallyslanted between 35 to 60 degrees from an orientation of thecorresponding arrays of interior patch antennas. In this way, the arraysof interior and exterior patch antennas can improve their impedancematching for the wave front of the upload and download RF signalscommunicated through the glass window, which results in less loss ofgain in the RF signals.

In one or more embodiments, an RF isolation spacer may be providedbetween arrays of patch antennas employed by the RF coupler on theexterior surface of the barrier for communicating the upload anddownload RF signals across a barrier, such as a glass window. The RFisolation spacer may be formed from one or more different types of RFabsorbent materials. Exemplary RF absorbent materials may includerubberized foam impregnated with controlled mixtures of carbon and/oriron that may be configured in pyramidal shapes, or flat plates offerrite material. Also, separate cutouts (ports) are provided for theupload and download patch antennas arrays the RF signals between theexterior and interior surfaces of the barrier. Additionally, slits maybe formed in the RF isolation spacer to further isolate and breakupcoupling between the upload and download RF signals. See FIG. 11D.

In one or more embodiments, one or more inductive charge (magnetic loop)couplers are positioned on both sides of the interior and exteriorsurfaces of the window barrier. The one or more inductive chargecouplers may be connected to an electrical power source, such as one ormore of a fixed electrical connection, a removable electricalconnection, a battery, a solar cell, or the like. Further, electricalpower may be provided by the one or more inductive couplers to one ormore of the one or more external antennas, the one or more RF couplers,the one or more amplifiers, the one or more internal antennas, locationdevices, local wireless interfaces, processing components, or customerpremises equipment. Also, for one or more embodiments, the electricalpower may be provided directly to the one or more amplifiers, the one ormore internal antennas, or customer premises equipment by a fixedelectrical connection to a power source, a removable electricalconnection to a power source, a battery, a solar cell, inductive chargecoupler, or the like.

In one or more embodiments, different RF wireless signals may becommunicated by the one or more base station nodes using different typesof wireless communication protocols, such as 5G, 4G, 3G, 2G, LTE, TDMA,GPRS, CDMA, GSM, WiFi, WiMax, or the like. Also, these different typesof wireless communication protocols may be employed for different typesof services. For example, wireless signals employed to control one ormore operations of the one or more external antennas, the one or moreglass field couplers, the one or more amplifiers, the one or moreinternal antennas, or customer premises equipment may not requiresignificant bandwidth or speed. Thus, these control operations may becommunicated by 4G, or less, communication protocols which can reduceenergy consumption, and/or save costs.

In one or more embodiments, the structure be an office building,shopping center, sports stadium, residence, school, factory, library,theater, or the like.

Also, in one or more embodiments, the external antennas and/or internalantennas are holographic beam forming antennas, such as one or moreholographic metasurface antennas (HMAs) or the like. An HMA may use anarrangement of controllable elements to produce an object wave. Also, inone or more embodiments, the controllable elements may employ individualelectronic circuits that have two or more different states. In this way,an object wave can be modified by changing the states of the electroniccircuits for one or more of the controllable elements. A controlfunction, such as a hologram function, can be employed to define acurrent state of the individual controllable elements for a particularobject wave. In one or more embodiments, the hologram function can bepredetermined or dynamically created in real time in response to variousinputs and/or conditions. In one or more embodiments, a library ofpredetermined hologram functions may be provided. In the one or moreembodiments, any type of HMA can be used to that is capable of producingthe beams described herein.

Illustrated Operating Environment

FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of an HMA which takes the form of asurface scattering antenna 100 (i.e., a HMA) that includes multiplescattering elements 102 a, 102 b that are distributed along awave-propagating structure 104 or other arrangement through which areference wave 105 can be delivered to the scattering elements. The wavepropagating structure 104 may be, for example, a microstrip, a coplanarwaveguide, a parallel plate waveguide, a dielectric rod or slab, aclosed or tubular waveguide, a substrate-integrated waveguide, or anyother structure capable of supporting the propagation of a referencewave 105 along or within the structure. A reference wave 105 is input tothe wave-propagating structure 104. The scattering elements 102 a, 102 bmay include scattering elements that are embedded within, positioned ona surface of, or positioned within an evanescent proximity of, thewave-propagation structure 104. Examples of such scattering elementsinclude, but are not limited to, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.9,385,435; 9,450,310; 9,711,852; 9,806,414; 9,806,415; 9,806,416; and9,812,779 and U.S. Patent Applications Publication Nos. 2017/0127295;2017/0155193; and 2017/0187123, all of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety. Also, any other suitable types orarrangement of scattering elements can be used.

The surface scattering antenna may also include at least one feedconnector 106 that is configured to couple the wave-propagationstructure 104 to a feed structure 108 which is coupled to a referencewave source (not shown). The feed structure 108 may be a transmissionline, a waveguide, or any other structure capable of providing anelectromagnetic signal that may be launched, via the feed connector 106,into the wave-propagating structure 104. The feed connector 106 may be,for example, a coaxial-to-microstrip connector (e.g. an SMA-to-PCBadapter), a coaxial-to-waveguide connector, a mode-matched transitionsection, etc.

The scattering elements 102 a, 102 b are adjustable scattering elementshaving electromagnetic properties that are adjustable in response to oneor more external inputs. Adjustable scattering elements can includeelements that are adjustable in response to voltage inputs (e.g. biasvoltages for active elements (such as varactors, transistors, diodes) orfor elements that incorporate tunable dielectric materials (such asferroelectrics or liquid crystals)), current inputs (e.g. directinjection of charge carriers into active elements), optical inputs (e.g.illumination of a photoactive material), field inputs (e.g. magneticfields for elements that include nonlinear magnetic materials),mechanical inputs (e.g. MEMS, actuators, hydraulics), or the like. Inthe schematic example of FIG. 1A, scattering elements that have beenadjusted to a first state having first electromagnetic properties aredepicted as the first elements 102 a, while scattering elements thathave been adjusted to a second state having second electromagneticproperties are depicted as the second elements 102 b. The depiction ofscattering elements having first and second states corresponding tofirst and second electromagnetic properties is not intended to belimiting: embodiments may provide scattering elements that arediscretely adjustable to select from a discrete plurality of statescorresponding to a discrete plurality of different electromagneticproperties, or continuously adjustable to select from a continuum ofstates corresponding to a continuum of different electromagneticproperties.

In the example of FIG. 1A, the scattering elements 102 a, 102 b havefirst and second couplings to the reference wave 105 that are functionsof the first and second electromagnetic properties, respectively. Forexample, the first and second couplings may be first and secondpolarizabilities of the scattering elements at the frequency orfrequency band of the reference wave. On account of the first and secondcouplings, the first and second scattering elements 102 a, 102 b areresponsive to the reference wave 105 to produce a plurality of scatteredelectromagnetic waves having amplitudes that are functions of (e.g. areproportional to) the respective first and second couplings. Asuperposition of the scattered electromagnetic waves comprises anelectromagnetic wave that is depicted, in this example, as an objectwave 110 that radiates from the surface scattering antenna 100.

FIG. 1A illustrates a one-dimensional array of scattering elements 102a, 102 b. It will be understood that two- or three-dimensional arrayscan also be used. In addition, these arrays can have different shapes.Moreover, the array illustrated in FIG. 1A is a regular array ofscattering elements 102 a, 102 b with equidistant spacing betweenadjacent scattering elements, but it will be understood that otherarrays may be irregular or may have different or variable spacingbetween adjacent scattering elements. Also, Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit (ASIC)109 is employed to control the operation of therow of scattering elements 102 a and 102 b. Further, controller 110 maybe employed to control the operation of one or more ASICs that controlone or more rows in the array.

The array of scattering elements 102 a, 102 b can be used to produce afar-field beam pattern that at least approximates a desired beam patternby applying a modulation pattern 107 (e.g., a hologram function, H) tothe scattering elements receiving the reference wave (ψ_(ref)) 105 froma reference wave source, as illustrated in FIG. 1B. Although themodulation pattern or hologram function 107 in FIG. 1B is illustrated assinusoidal, it will be recognized non-sinusoidal functions (includingnon-repeating or irregular functions) may also be used. FIG. 1Cillustrates one example of a modulation pattern and FIG. 1D illustratesone example of a beam generated using that modulation pattern.

In at least some embodiments, a computing system can calculate, select(for example, from a look-up table or database of modulation patterns)or otherwise determine the modulation pattern to apply to the scatteringelements 102 a, 102 b receiving the RF energy that will result in anapproximation of desired beam pattern. In at least some embodiments, afield description of a desired far-field beam pattern is provided and,using a transfer function of free space or any other suitable function,an object wave (ψ_(obj)) 110 at an antenna's aperture plane can bedetermined that results in the desired far-field beam pattern beingradiated. The modulation function (e.g., hologram function) can bedetermined which will scatter the reference wave 105 into the objectwave 110. The modulation function (e.g., hologram function) is appliedto scattering elements 102 a, 102 b, which are excited by the referencewave 105, to form an approximation of an object wave 110 which in turnradiates from the aperture plane to at least approximately produce thedesired far-field beam pattern.

In at least some embodiments, the hologram function H (i.e., themodulation function) is equal the complex conjugate of the referencewave and the object wave, i.e., ψ_(ref)*ψ_(obj). In at least someembodiments, the surface scattering antenna may be adjusted to provide,for example, a selected beam direction (e.g. beam steering), a selectedbeam width or shape (e.g. a fan or pencil beam having a broad or narrowbeam width), a selected arrangement of nulls (e.g. null steering), aselected arrangement of multiple beams, a selected polarization state(e.g. linear, circular, or elliptical polarization), a selected overallphase, or any combination thereof. Alternatively, or additionally,embodiments of the surface scattering antenna may be adjusted to providea selected near field radiation profile, e.g. to provide near-fieldfocusing or near-field nulls.

The surface scattering antenna can be considered a holographicbeamformer which, at least in some embodiments, is dynamicallyadjustable to produce a far-field radiation pattern or beam. In someembodiments, the surface scattering antenna includes a substantiallyone-dimensional wave-propagating structure 104 having a substantiallyone-dimensional arrangement of scattering elements. In otherembodiments, the surface scattering antenna includes a substantiallytwo-dimensional wave-propagating structure 104 having a substantiallytwo-dimensional arrangement of scattering elements. In at least someembodiments, the array of scattering elements 102 a, 102 b can be usedto generate a narrow, directional far-field beam pattern, asillustrated, for example, in FIG. 1C. It will be understood that beamswith other shapes can also be generated using the array of scatteringelements 102 a, 102 b.

In at least some of the embodiments, the narrow far-field beam patterncan be generated using a holographic metasurface antenna (HMA) and mayhave a width that is 5 to 20 degrees in extent. The width of the beampattern can be determined as the broadest extent of the beam or can bedefined at a particular region of the beam, such as the width at 3 dBattenuation. Any other suitable method or definition for determiningwidth can be used.

A wider beam pattern (also referred to as a “radiation pattern”) isdesirable in a number of applications, but the achievable width may belimited by, or otherwise not available using, a single HMA. Multipleinstances of HMAs can be positioned in an array of HMAs to produce awider composite far-field beam pattern. It will be recognized, however,that the individual beam patterns from the individual HMAs will ofteninteract and change the composite far-field beam pattern so that, atleast in some instances, without employing the one or more embodimentsof the invention, the simple combination of the outputs of multipleinstances of HMAs produces a composite far-field beam pattern that doesnot achieve the desired or intended configuration.

FIG. 2A illustrates an overview of system for communicating data fromone or more data centers 238 which employs one or more networkoperations centers 230 to route the data to one or more wireless signalbase stations that communicate the data in the form of wireless signalsto one or more wireless communication devices (not shown). As shown, thedata is communicated from one or more data centers 238 and routed inpart by one or more NOCs 230 over network 232 to one or more wirelesssignal base stations 234 that wirelessly communicate the data with oneor more different types of wireless communication devices (not shown)located inside one or more structures 236, behind barriers 233, withinvehicles 235, or outside in an open space, such as a park, stadium, oropen air theater. Also, one or more wireless client devices 231 arecoupled to network 232 and may be employed to communicate data to thedifferent types of wireless communication devices.

Network 232 may be configured to couple network operation centercomputers with other computing devices, including wireless base station234. Network 232 may include various wired and/or wireless technologiesfor communicating with a remote device, such as, but not limited to, USBcable, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, or the like. In some embodiments, network 232may be a network configured to couple network computers with othercomputing devices. In various embodiments, information communicatedbetween devices may include various kinds of information, including, butnot limited to, processor-readable instructions, remote requests, serverresponses, program modules, applications, raw data, control data, systeminformation (e.g., log files), video data, voice data, image data, textdata, structured/unstructured data, or the like. In some embodiments,this information may be communicated between devices using one or moretechnologies and/or network protocols.

In some embodiments, such a network may include various wired networks,wireless networks, or various combinations thereof. In variousembodiments, network 232 may be enabled to employ various forms ofcommunication technology, topology, computer-readable media, or thelike, for communicating information from one electronic device toanother. For example, network 232 can include—in addition to theInternet—LANs, WANs, Personal Area Networks (PANs), Campus AreaNetworks, Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), direct communicationconnections (such as through a universal serial bus (USB) port), or thelike, or various combinations thereof.

In various embodiments, communication links within and/or betweennetworks may include, but are not limited to, twisted wire pair, opticalfibers, open air lasers, coaxial cable, plain old telephone service(POTS), wave guides, acoustics, full or fractional dedicated digitallines (such as T1, T2, T3, or T4), E-carriers, Integrated ServicesDigital Networks (ISDNs), Digital Subscriber Lines (DSLs), wirelesslinks (including satellite links), or other links and/or carriermechanisms known to those skilled in the art. Moreover, communicationlinks may further employ various ones of a variety of digital signalingtechnologies, including without limit, for example, DS-0, DS-1, DS-2,DS-3, DS-4, OC-3, OC-12, OC-48, or the like. In some embodiments, arouter (or other intermediate network device) may act as a link betweenvarious networks—including those based on different architectures and/orprotocols—to enable information to be transferred from one network toanother. In other embodiments, remote computers and/or other relatedelectronic devices could be connected to a network via a modem andtemporary telephone link. In essence, network 232 may include variouscommunication technologies by which information may travel betweencomputing devices.

Network 232 may, in some embodiments, include various wireless networks,which may be configured to couple various portable network devices,remote computers, wired networks, other wireless networks, or the like.Wireless networks may include various ones of a variety of sub-networksthat may further overlay stand-alone ad-hoc networks, or the like, toprovide an infrastructure-oriented connection for at least clientcomputer. Such sub-networks may include mesh networks, Wireless LAN(WLAN) networks, cellular networks, or the like. In one or more of thevarious embodiments, the system may include more than one wirelessnetwork.

Network 232 may employ a plurality of wired and/or wirelesscommunication protocols and/or technologies. Examples of variousgenerations (e.g., third (3G), fourth (4G), or fifth (5G)) ofcommunication protocols and/or technologies that may be employed by thenetwork may include, but are not limited to, Global System for Mobilecommunication (GSM), General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Enhanced DataGSM Environment (EDGE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), WidebandCode Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Code Division Multiple Access2000 (CDMA2000), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), Long TermEvolution (LTE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS),Evolution-Data Optimized (Ev-DO), Worldwide Interoperability forMicrowave Access (WiMax), time division multiple access (TDMA),Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM), ultra-wide band(UWB), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), user datagram protocol(UDP), transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), variousportions of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model protocols,session initiated protocol/real-time transport protocol (SIP/RTP), shortmessage service (SMS), multimedia messaging service (MMS), or variousones of a variety of other communication protocols and/or technologies.

In various embodiments, at least a portion of network 232 may bearranged as an autonomous system of nodes, links, paths, terminals,gateways, routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, forwarders,repeaters, optical-electrical converters, or the like, which may beconnected by various communication links. These autonomous systems maybe configured to self-organize based on current operating conditionsand/or rule-based policies, such that the network topology of thenetwork may be modified.

FIG. 2B illustrates another arrangement of HMAs 220 a, 220 b, 220 c thatproduce beams 222 a, 222 b, 222 c where the middle beam 222 b issubstantially different in size and shape from the other two beams 222a, 222 c. FIG. 2C illustrates, in a top view, yet another arrangement ofHMAs 220 a, 220 b, 220 c, 220 d which form a two-dimensional array.

Also, one or more particular shapes of beam patterns, such as wide beampatterns, narrow beam patterns or composite beam patterns, may bedesirable in a number of applications at different times for differentconditions, but may not be practical or even available using a singleHMA. In one or more embodiments, multiple instances of HMAs may bepositioned in an array to produce a wide variety of composite,near-field, and/or far-field beam patterns without significantcancellation or signal loss. Since the object waves of multipleinstances of HMAs may interfere with each other, adjustment to theirobject waves may be desirable to generate a beam pattern “closer” to thedesired shape of a particular beam pattern. Any suitable methodology ormetric can be used to determine the “closeness” of a beam pattern to adesired beam pattern including, but not limited to, an average deviation(or total deviation or sum of the magnitudes of deviation) over theentire beam pattern or a defined portion of the beam pattern from thedesired beam pattern or the like.

In one of more embodiments, a physical arrangement of HMAs may beexisting or can be constructed and coupled to a reference wave source.In one or more embodiments, a hologram function can be calculated,selected, or otherwise provided or determined for each of the HMAs. Eachof the HMAs includes an array of dynamically adjustable scatteringelements that have an adjustable electromagnetic response to a referencewave from the reference wave source. The hologram function for the HMAdefines adjustments of the electromagnetic responses for the scatteringelements of the HMA to produce an object wave that is emitted from theHMA in response to the reference wave. The object waves produced by theHMAs may be combined to produce a composite beam. Any suitable method ortechnique can be used to determine or provide any arrangement of HMAs toproduce a composite beam, such as the exemplary composite beamsillustrated in FIGS. 2B and 2C.

FIG. 2D illustrates an overview of remote wireless base station 234communicating upload and download RF wireless signals with an RFcommunication device having one component 244 a that includes anexternal antenna (employing one or more HMAs) attached to an exteriorsurface of window 238 in structure 236; and also having anothercomponent 244 b that includes an internal antenna (may or may not employHMAs) attached to an interior surface of window 238. The internalantenna communicates the upload and download RF wireless signals withone or more CPE devices 240 that further communicate with one or morewireless computing devices 242 and/or wired devices inside structure236. Although not shown, the RF communication device may also includeglass field couplers that are positioned on opposite sides of window 238to wirelessly transmit and receive the RF wireless signals through thewindow. Also not shown, the RF communication device may include one ormore amplifiers that may be provided to boost the upload and download RFwireless signals communicated through window 238 with remote basestation 234. Further, the RF communication device may include inductivechargers (not shown) provide electrical power to the various componentsdisposed on opposite sides of window 238.

FIG. 2E shows a schematic view of remote wireless base station 234communicating upload and download RF signals with an RF communicationdevice 246 disposed on an interior surface of window 238 of structure236. Although not shown, the RF communication device includes anexternal antenna that communicates the RF signals with remote basestation 234. Also, an internal antenna is included to communicate the RFsignals with one or more CPEs disposed inside structure 236. The CPE isconfigured to communicate with one or more wireless computing devicesand/or wired devices (not shown) disposed inside structure 236. Further,inductive chargers (not shown) provide electrical power to the variouscomponents disposed on the interior surface of window 238.

FIG. 2F illustrates a schematic view of remote wireless base station 234communicating upload and download RF signals with an RF communicationdevice 248 disposed on an exterior surface of window 238 of structure236. Although not shown, the RF communication device includes anexternal antenna that communicates the RF signals with remote basestation 234. Also, an internal antenna is included to communicate the RFsignals through window 238 to one or more CPEs disposed inside structure236. The CPE is configured to communicate with one or more wirelesscomputing devices and/or wired devices (not shown) disposed insidestructure 236. Further, inductive chargers (not shown) provideelectrical power to the various components disposed on the interiorsurface of window 238.

Illustrative Computer

FIG. 3A shows one embodiment of an exemplary computer device 300 thatmay be included in an exemplary system implementing one or more of thevarious embodiments. Computer device 300 may include many more or lesscomponents than those shown in FIG. 3A. However, the components shownare sufficient to disclose an illustrative embodiment for practicingthese innovations. Computer device 300 may include a desktop computer, alaptop computer, a server computer, a client computer, and the like.Computer device 300 may represent, for example, one embodiment of one ormore of a laptop computer, smartphone/tablet, computer device,controller of one or more HMAs, mobile device or may be part of thenetwork operations center.

As shown in FIG. 3, computer device 300 includes one or more processors302 that may be in communication with one or more memories 304 via a bus306. In some embodiments, one or more processors 302 may be comprised ofone or more hardware processors, one or more processor cores, or one ormore virtual processors. In some cases, one or more of the one or moreprocessors may be specialized processors or electronic circuitsparticularly designed to perform one or more specialized actions, suchas, those described herein. Computer device 300 also includes a powersupply 308, network interface 310, non-transitory processor-readablestationary storage device 312 for storing data and instructions,non-transitory processor-readable removable storage device 314 forstoring data and instructions, input/output interface 316, GPStransceiver 318, display 320, keyboard 322, audio interface 324,pointing device interface 326, wireless interface 328, although acomputer device 300 may include fewer or more components than thoseillustrated in FIG. 3 and described herein. Power supply 308 providespower to computer device 300.

Network interface 310 includes circuitry for coupling computer device300 to one or more wired and/or wireless networks, and is constructedfor use with one or more communication protocols and technologiesincluding, but not limited to, protocols and technologies that implementvarious portions of the Open Systems Interconnection model (OSI model),global system for mobile communication (GSM), code division multipleaccess (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Long Term Evolution(LTE), 5G, 4G, 3G, 2G, user datagram protocol (UDP), transmissioncontrol protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), Short Message Service(SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), general packet radio service(GPRS), WAP, ultra wide band (UWB), IEEE 802.16 WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Session InitiationProtocol/Real-time Transport Protocol (SIP/RTP), or various ones of avariety of other wired and wireless communication protocols. Networkinterface 310 is sometimes known as a transceiver, transceiving device,or network interface card (NIC). Computer device 300 may optionallycommunicate with a remote base station (not shown), or directly withanother computer.

Audio interface 324 is arranged to produce and receive audio signalssuch as the sound of a human voice. For example, audio interface 324 maybe coupled to a speaker and microphone (not shown) to enabletelecommunication with others and/or generate an audio acknowledgementfor some action. A microphone in audio interface 324 can also be usedfor input to or control of computer device 300, for example, using voicerecognition.

Display 320 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), gas plasma,electronic ink, light emitting diode (LED), Organic LED (OLED) orvarious other types of light reflective or light transmissive displaythat can be used with a computer. Display 320 may be a handheldprojector or pico projector capable of projecting an image on a wall orother object.

Computer device 300 may also comprise input/output interface 316 forcommunicating with external devices or computers not shown in FIG. 3.Input/output interface 316 can utilize one or more wired or wirelesscommunication technologies, such as USB™, Firewire™, Wi-Fi™, WiMax,Thunderbolt™, Infrared, Bluetooth™, Zigbee™, serial port, parallel port,and the like.

Also, input/output interface 316 may also include one or more sensorsfor determining geolocation information (e.g., GPS), monitoringelectrical power conditions (e.g., voltage sensors, current sensors,frequency sensors, and so on), monitoring weather (e.g., thermostats,barometers, anemometers, humidity detectors, precipitation scales, orthe like), or the like. Sensors may be one or more hardware sensors thatcollect and/or measure data that is external to computer device 300.Human interface components can be physically separate from computerdevice 300, allowing for remote input and/or output to computer device300. For example, information routed as described here through humaninterface components such as display 320 or keyboard 322 can instead berouted through the network interface 310 to appropriate human interfacecomponents located elsewhere on the network. Human interface componentsinclude various components that allow the computer to take input from,or send output to, a human user of a computer. Accordingly, pointingdevices such as mice, styluses, track balls, or the like, maycommunicate through pointing device interface 326 to receive user input.

Memory 304 may include Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory(ROM), and/or other types of memory. Memory 304 illustrates an exampleof computer-readable storage media (devices) for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modulesor other data. Memory 304 stores a basic input/output system (BIOS) 330for controlling low-level operation of computer device 300. The memoryalso stores an operating system 332 for controlling the operation ofcomputer device 300. It will be appreciated that this component mayinclude a general-purpose operating system such as a version of UNIX, orLINUX™, or a specialized operating system such as MicrosoftCorporation's Windows® operating system, or the Apple Corporation's IOS®operating system. The operating system may include, or interface with aJava virtual machine module that enables control of hardware componentsand/or operating system operations via Java application programs.Likewise, other runtime environments may be included.

Memory 304 may further include one or more data storage 334, which canbe utilized by computer device 300 to store, among other things,applications 336 and/or other data. For example, data storage 334 mayalso be employed to store information that describes variouscapabilities of computer device 300. In one or more of the variousembodiments, data storage 334 may store hologram function information335 or beam shape information 337. The hologram function information 335or beam shape information 337 may then be provided to another device orcomputer based on various ones of a variety of methods, including beingsent as part of a header during a communication, sent upon request, orthe like. Data storage 334 may also be employed to store socialnetworking information including address books, buddy lists, aliases,user profile information, or the like. Data storage 334 may furtherinclude program code, data, algorithms, and the like, for use by one ormore processors, such as processor 302 to execute and perform actionssuch as those actions described below. In one embodiment, at least someof data storage 334 might also be stored on another component ofcomputer device 300, including, but not limited to, non-transitory mediainside non-transitory processor-readable stationary storage device 312,processor-readable removable storage device 314, or various othercomputer-readable storage devices within computer device 300, or evenexternal to computer device 300.

Applications 336 may include computer executable instructions which, ifexecuted by computer device 300, transmit, receive, and/or otherwiseprocess messages (e.g., SMS, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), InstantMessage (IM), email, and/or other messages), audio, video, and enabletelecommunication with another user of another mobile computer. Otherexamples of application programs include calendars, search programs,email client applications, IM applications, SMS applications, Voice OverInternet Protocol (VOIP) applications, contact managers, task managers,transcoders, database programs, word processing programs, securityapplications, spreadsheet programs, games, search programs, and soforth. Applications 336 may include hologram function engine 346, phaseangle engine 347, cloud-based management engine 348, and/or analyticsand control engine 349 that perform actions further described below. Inone or more of the various embodiments, one or more of the applicationsmay be implemented as modules and/or components of another application.Further, in one or more of the various embodiments, applications may beimplemented as operating system extensions, modules, plugins, or thelike.

Furthermore, in one or more of the various embodiments, specializedapplications such as hologram function engine 346, phase angle engine347, cloud-based management engine 348 and/or analytics and controlengine 349, may be operative in a networked computing environment toperform specialized actions described herein. In one or more of thevarious embodiments, these applications, and others, may be executingwithin virtual machines and/or virtual servers that may be managed in anetworked environment such as a local network, wide area network, orcloud-based based computing environment. In one or more of the variousembodiments, in this context the applications may flow from one physicalcomputer device within the cloud-based environment to another dependingon performance and scaling considerations automatically managed by thecloud computing environment. Likewise, in one or more of the variousembodiments, virtual machines and/or virtual servers dedicated to thehologram function engine 346, phase angle engine 347, cloud-basedmanagement engine 348, and/or analytics and control engine 349 may beprovisioned and de-commissioned automatically.

Additionally, in one or more embodiments, remote analytics and controlengine 349 may be employed by different types of users, e.g., customers,administrators, or technicians, to enable a webpage and/or anapplication to provide different types of security, controls, and/orinformation regarding an RF communication device. The information mayinclude metrics, notifications, troubleshooting tips, software updates,strength of upload and download RF signal, alerts, restart controls, RFsignal scanning controls, user permissions, metrics, or the like.

Also, in one or more of the various embodiments, the hologram functionengine 346, phase angle engine 347, cloud-based management engine 348,analytics and control engine 349, or the like, may be located in virtualservers running in a networked computing environment rather than beingtied to one or more specific physical computer devices.

Further, computer device 300 may comprise HSM 328 for providingadditional tamper resistant safeguards for generating, storing and/orusing security/cryptographic information such as, keys, digitalcertificates, passwords, passphrases, two-factor authenticationinformation, or the like. In some embodiments, hardware security modulemay be employed to support one or more standard public keyinfrastructures (PKI), and may be employed to generate, manage, and/orstore keys pairs, or the like. In some embodiments, HSM 328 may be astand-alone computer device, in other cases, HSM 328 may be arranged asa hardware card that may be installed in a computer device.

Additionally, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the figures), thecomputer device may include one or more embedded logic hardware devicesinstead of one or more CPUs, such as, an Application Specific IntegratedCircuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), ProgrammableArray Logics (PALs), or the like, or combination thereof. The embeddedlogic hardware devices may directly execute embedded logic to performactions. Also, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the figures),the computer device may include one or more hardware microcontrollersinstead of a CPU. In one or more embodiments, the one or moremicrocontrollers may directly execute their own embedded logic toperform actions and access their own internal memory and their ownexternal Input and Output Interfaces (e.g., hardware pins and/orwireless transceivers) to perform actions, such as System On a Chip(SOC), or the like.

Illustrative Client Computer

FIG. 3B shows one embodiment of client computer 350 that may includemany more or less components than those shown. Client computer 350 mayrepresent, for example, at least one embodiment of mobile computers orclient computers shown in FIG. 2A.

Client computer 350 may include processor 351 in communication withmemory 352 via bus 360. Client computer 350 may also include powersupply 361, network interface 362, audio interface 374, display 371,keypad 372, illuminator 373, video interface 367, input/output interface365, haptic interface 378, global positioning systems (GPS) receiver375, open air gesture interface 376, temperature interface 377,camera(s) 367, projector 370, pointing device interface 379,processor-readable stationary storage device 363, and processor-readableremovable storage device 364. Client computer 350 may optionallycommunicate with a base station (not shown), or directly with anothercomputer. Power supply 361 may provide power to client computer 350. Arechargeable or non-rechargeable battery may be used to provide power.The power may also be provided by an external power source, such as anAC adapter or a powered docking cradle that supplements or recharges thebattery.

Network interface 362 includes circuitry for coupling client computer350 to one or more networks, and is constructed for use with one or morecommunication protocols and technologies including, but not limited to,protocols and technologies that implement any portion of the OSI modelfor mobile communication (GSM), CDMA, time division multiple access(TDMA), UDP, TCP/IP, SMS, MMS, GPRS, WAP, UWB, WiMax, SIP/RTP, GPRS,EDGE, WCDMA, LTE, UMTS, OFDM, CDMA2000, EV-DO, HSDPA, or any of avariety of other wireless communication protocols. Network interface 362is sometimes known as a transceiver, transceiving device, or networkinterface card (MC).

Audio interface 374 may be arranged to produce and receive audio signalssuch as the sound of a human voice. For example, audio interface 374 maybe coupled to a speaker and microphone (not shown) to enabletelecommunication with others or generate an audio acknowledgement forsome action. A microphone in audio interface 374 can also be used forinput to or control of client computer 350, e.g., using voicerecognition, detecting touch based on sound, and the like.

Display 371 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), gas plasma,electronic ink, light emitting diode (LED), Organic LED (OLED) or anyother type of light reflective or light transmissive display that can beused with a computer. Display 371 may also include a touch interface 368arranged to receive input from an object such as a stylus or a digitfrom a human hand, and may use resistive, capacitive, surface acousticwave (SAW), infrared, radar, or other technologies to sense touch orgestures.

Projector 370 may be a remote handheld projector or an integratedprojector that is capable of projecting an image on a remote wall or anyother reflective object such as a remote screen.

Video interface 367 may be arranged to capture video images, such as astill photo, a video segment, an infrared video, or the like. Forexample, video interface 367 may be coupled to a digital video camera, aweb-camera, or the like. Video interface 367 may comprise a lens, animage sensor, and other electronics. Image sensors may include acomplementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit,charge-coupled device (CCD), or any other integrated circuit for sensinglight.

Keypad 372 may comprise any input device arranged to receive input froma user. For example, keypad 372 may include a push button numeric dial,or a keyboard. Keypad 372 may also include command buttons that areassociated with selecting and sending images.

Illuminator 373 may provide a status indication or provide light.Illuminator 373 may remain active for specific periods of time or inresponse to event messages. For example, when illuminator 373 is active,it may backlight the buttons on keypad 372 and stay on while the clientcomputer is powered. Also, illuminator 373 may backlight these buttonsin various patterns when particular actions are performed, such asdialing another client computer. Illuminator 373 may also enable lightsources positioned within a transparent or translucent case of theclient computer to illuminate in response to actions.

Further, client computer 350 may also comprise hardware security module(HSM) 369 for providing additional tamper resistant safeguards forgenerating, storing or using security/cryptographic information such as,keys, digital certificates, passwords, passphrases, two-factorauthentication information, or the like. In some embodiments, hardwaresecurity module may be employed to support one or more standard publickey infrastructures (PKI), and may be employed to generate, manage, orstore keys pairs, or the like. In some embodiments, HSM 369 may be astand-alone computer, in other cases, HSM 369 may be arranged as ahardware card that may be added to a client computer.

Client computer 350 may also comprise input/output interface 365 forcommunicating with external peripheral devices or other computers suchas other client computers and network computers. The peripheral devicesmay include an audio headset, virtual reality headsets, display screenglasses, remote speaker system, remote speaker and microphone system,and the like. Input/output interface 365 can utilize one or moretechnologies, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), Infrared, WiFi, WiMax,Bluetooth™, and the like.

Input/output interface 365 may also include one or more sensors fordetermining geolocation information (e.g., GPS), monitoring electricalpower conditions (e.g., voltage sensors, current sensors, frequencysensors, and so on), monitoring weather (e.g., thermostats, barometers,anemometers, humidity detectors, precipitation scales, or the like), orthe like. Sensors may be one or more hardware sensors that collect ormeasure data that is external to client computer 350.

Haptic interface 378 may be arranged to provide tactile feedback to auser of the client computer. For example, the haptic interface 378 maybe employed to vibrate client computer 350 in a particular way whenanother user of a computer is calling. Temperature interface 377 may beused to provide a temperature measurement input or a temperaturechanging output to a user of client computer 350. Open air gestureinterface 376 may sense physical gestures of a user of client computer350, for example, by using single or stereo video cameras, radar, agyroscopic sensor inside a computer held or worn by the user, or thelike. One or more cameras 366 may be used by an application to employfacial recognition methods to identify a user, track the user's physicaleye movements, or take pictures (images) or videos.

GPS device 375 can determine the physical coordinates of client computer350 on the surface of the Earth, which typically outputs a location aslatitude and longitude values. GPS device 375 can also employ othergeo-positioning mechanisms, including, but not limited to,triangulation, assisted GPS (AGPS), Enhanced Observed Time Difference(E-OTD), Cell Identifier (CI), Service Area Identifier (SAI), EnhancedTiming Advance (ETA), Base Station Subsystem (BSS), or the like, tofurther determine the physical location of client computer 350 on thesurface of the Earth. It is understood that GPS device 375 can employ agyroscope to determine an orientation and/or an accelerometer todetermine movement of the client computer 350. In one or moreembodiment, however, client computer 350 may, through other components,provide other information that may be employed to determine a physicallocation of the client computer, including for example, a Media AccessControl (MAC) address, IP address, and the like.

Human interface components can be peripheral devices that are physicallyseparate from client computer 350, allowing for remote input or outputto client computer 350. For example, information routed as describedhere through human interface components such as display 371 or keypad372 can instead be routed through network interface 362 to appropriatehuman interface components located remotely. Examples of human interfaceperipheral components that may be remote include, but are not limitedto, audio devices, pointing devices, keypads, displays, cameras,projectors, and the like. These peripheral components may communicateover a Pico Network such as Bluetooth™, Zigbee™ and the like. Onenon-limiting example of a client computer with such peripheral humaninterface components is a wearable computer, which might include aremote pico projector along with one or more cameras that remotelycommunicate with a separately located client computer to sense a user'sgestures toward portions of an image projected by the pico projectoronto a reflected surface such as a wall or the user's hand.

Client computer 350 may include analysis and control app 357 that may beconfigured to remotely provide key performance indicators (KPIs) of theperformance of an RF communication device such as shown in FIGS. 3C and3D. The KPIs may include upload bandwidth, download bandwidth, strengthof wireless signals communicated with a remote wireless base station,reflector, base station proxy, or customer premises equipment. Also, app357 may authorize and enable different types of users (e.g.,technicians, customers, and the like) to use a displayed interface toquickly identify and troubleshoot technical problems, assist inorientation of the RF communication device to provide an optimalwireless communication link with a remote wireless base station, and thelike. The app may also enable adjustment of particular performanceparameters to improve one or more aspects of the operation of the RFcommunication device. In one or more embodiments, app 357 may employBluetooth, wifi, or any other wireless or wired communication link tocommunicate with the RF communication device.

Client computer 350 may include web browser application 359 that isconfigured to receive and to send web pages, web-based messages,graphics, text, multimedia, and the like. The client computer's browserapplication may employ virtually any programming language, including awireless application protocol messages (WAP), and the like. In one ormore embodiment, the browser application is enabled to employ HandheldDevice Markup Language (HDML), Wireless Markup Language (WML),WMLScript, JavaScript, Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML),HyperText Markup Language (HTML), eXtensible Markup Language (XML),HTMLS, and the like.

Memory 352 may include RAM, ROM, or other types of memory. Memory 352illustrates an example of computer-readable storage media (devices) forstorage of information such as computer-readable instructions, datastructures, program modules or other data. Memory 352 may store BIOS 354for controlling low-level operation of client computer 350. The memorymay also store operating system 353 for controlling the operation ofclient computer 350. It will be appreciated that this component mayinclude a general-purpose operating system such as a version of UNIX, orLINUX™ or a specialized client computer communication operating systemsuch as Windows Phone™, Apple iOS™ or the Symbian® operating system. Theoperating system may include, or interface with a Java virtual machinemodule that enables control of hardware components or operating systemoperations via Java application programs.

Memory 352 may further include one or more data storage 355, which canbe utilized by client computer 350 to store, among other things,applications 356 or other data. For example, data storage 355 may alsobe employed to store information that describes various capabilities ofclient computer 350. The information may then be provided to anotherdevice or computer based on any of a variety of methods, including beingsent as part of a header during a communication, sent upon request, orthe like. Data storage 355 may also be employed to store socialnetworking information including address books, buddy lists, aliases,user profile information, or the like. Data storage 355 may furtherinclude program code, data, algorithms, and the like, for use by aprocessor, such as processor 351 to execute and perform actions. In oneembodiment, at least some of data storage 355 might also be stored onanother component of client computer 350, including, but not limited to,non-transitory processor-readable removable storage device 364,processor-readable stationary storage device 363, or even external tothe client computer.

Applications 356 may include computer executable instructions which,when executed by client computer 350, transmit, receive, or otherwiseprocess instructions and data. Applications 356 may include, forexample, analysis and control app 357, other client applications 358,web browser 359, or the like. Client computers may be arranged toexchange communications, such as, queries, searches, messages,notification messages, event messages, alerts, performance metrics, logdata, API calls, or the like, combination thereof, with applicationservers or network monitoring computers.

Other examples of application programs include calendars, searchprograms, email client applications, IM applications, SMS applications,Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) applications, contact managers, taskmanagers, transcoders, database programs, word processing programs,security applications, spreadsheet programs, games, search programs, andso forth.

Additionally, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the figures),client computer 350 may include one or more embedded logic hardwaredevices instead of CPUs, such as, an Application Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Programmable ArrayLogic (PAL), or the like, or combination thereof. The embedded logichardware devices may directly execute embedded logic to perform actions.Also, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the figures), clientcomputer 200 may include one or more hardware microcontrollers insteadof CPUs. In one or more embodiments, the microcontrollers may directlyexecute their own embedded logic to perform actions and access their owninternal memory and their own external Input and Output Interfaces(e.g., hardware pins or wireless transceivers) to perform actions, suchas System On a Chip (SOC), or the like.

Exemplary Schematics

FIG. 3C shows an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for RFcommunication device 388A that is separate from a CPE device (notshown). As discussed above, the RF communication device 388A may beconfigured with all of its major components located on an outsidesurface of a barrier, all of the components located on an inside surfaceof the barrier, and a portion of the RF communication device'scomponents that include external antenna 380 located on the barrier'soutside surface and another portion of these components that includeinternal antenna 383 located on the barrier's inside surface.

In one or more embodiments, external antenna 380 employs a scanningarray antenna, such as an HMA, to communicate upload and download RFsignals with a remotely located wireless base station (not shown). WhenRF communication device 388A is configured to be located on the insidesurface of a barrier, such as a glass window, external antenna 380 ispositioned to communicate the upload and download RF signals through theglass barrier to the remote wireless base station.

In one or more exemplary embodiments, external antenna 380 may adjust anHMA waveform employed by the HMA to compensate a decrease in gain causedby the scan impedance of the glass window during communication throughthe glass window of the upload and download RF signals with the remotewireless base station. The scan impedance may be caused by one or morefactors, including thickness of glass, index of refraction of the glass,layers of the glass, coatings on the glass, or the like. In one or moreembodiments, the scan impedance compensation includes detecting adirection of the HMA waveform to provide the strongest RF signalcommunication with the remote wireless base station, and then employingthe HMA to adjust the scan impedance of the wave front of the radiatedRF signal. In one or more embodiments, the bias voltage to one or morevaractors that control scattering elements of the HMA may be adjusted toincrease the gain of the communicated RF signals.

In one or more embodiments, internal antenna 383 may be configured as anarray of patch antennas to communicate the upload and download RFsignals towards the CPE. However, in one or more embodiments, internalantenna 383 may be configured with an HMA instead of the patch antennaarray to communicate the upload and download RF signals to a remotelylocated CPE across relatively long distances such as found in stadiums,factories, assembly buildings, concert halls, or the like. Also, one ormore of relay devices, or reflector devices may be employed to furtherextend a distance that the upload and download RF signals can becommunicated inside a large structure to reach a remotely located CPE.Additionally, in one or more embodiments, the CPE may include a beamforming antenna, e.g., an HMA, to communicate upload and download RFcommunication signals with the RF communication device.

Wireless interface 387 may be employed to perform various functions withone or more different types of one or more different wirelesscommunication protocols, such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, WiFi,LTE, CDMA, GSM, TDMA, or the like. Further, in one or more embodiments,a webpage and/or an application may employ wireless interface 387 toprovide different types of security, controls, and/or informationregarding the RF communication device 388A. The information may includemetrics, notifications, troubleshooting tips, software updates, strengthof upload and download RF signal, alerts, restart controls, RF signalscanning controls, user permissions, metrics, or the like. In one ormore embodiments, wireless interface 387 may be employed to establish aninband wireless communication channel between the CPE and RFcommunication device 388A. In another embodiment, wireless interface 387may be employed to establish an out of band wireless communicationchannel between a technician and RF communication device 388A. Also, inyet another embodiment, wireless interface 387 may be employed toestablish an out of band wireless communication with one or moreapplications, e.g., an analytics and control engine, located at networkoperations centers, data centers, wireless base stations, or the like.

In one or more embodiments, RF coupler 381 may optionally be included tocommunicate the upload and download RF signals through a barrier, suchas a glass window, when RF communication device 388A is physicallylocated on an outside surface of the barrier or one portion of the RFcommunication device's components are located on the outside surface andanother portion of the RF communication device's components are locatedon the inside surface of the barrier. However, in one or moreembodiments when RF communication device 388A is entirely located on aninside surface of a barrier, then RF coupler 381 may not be includedwith the RF communication device.

In one or more embodiments, location device 384 may optionally beincluded with RF communication device 388A. Location device 384 mayinclude a gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS device, and the like to detectan orientation, movement, and/or location of RF communication device388A. In one or more embodiments, location device 384 may be employed bya technician to orient an installation of RF communication device 388Ain such a way as to optimize communication of upload and download RFsignals with a remotely located wireless base station.

In one or more embodiments, inductive charger 386 may be optionallyincluded to provide electrical power when RF communication device 388Ais physically located on an outside surface of the barrier or oneportion of the RF communication device's components are located on theoutside surface and another portion of the RF communication device'scomponents are located on the inside surface of the barrier. Althoughnot shown, in one or more embodiments, one or more solar panels may beemployed to provide electrical power to RF communication device 388A.Further, in one or more embodiments, when RF communication device 388Ais entirely positioned on an inside surface of a barrier, electricalpower may be provided directly by an electrical outlet located inside astructure.

In one or more embodiments, processing components 385 are employed tocontrol and/or manage operation of RF communication device 388A and oneor all of the components included with the RF communication device. Inone or more embodiments, processing circuitry 385 includes one or moreof a processor, memory, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC),Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or the like.

Also, in one or more embodiments, amplifier 382 may include a bi-staticamplifier that simultaneously provides continuous and separate gains toupload RF wireless signals and download RF wireless signals. Thebi-static amplifier is configured to employ separate upload and downloadamplifiers to separately provide a gain to the upload RF wireless signalas it is radiated by the exterior antenna and another gain to thedownload RF wireless signal as it is radiated by the interior antenna tothe CPE. Also, in yet other embodiments, the bi-directional amplifierprovides separate gains to the upload and download RF wireless signalsby isolating and timing the communication of these upload and downloadRF wireless signals.

FIG. 3D illustrates an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for RFcommunication device 388B that includes CPE 389. Although not shown,amplifier 382 may be configured to provide gain for the upload RFwireless signal and not provide gain to the download RF wireless signalbecause CPE 389 may be configured to receive the download RF signaldirectly from external antenna 380. Also, an internal antenna would notbe included as a component of RF communication device 388B.Additionally, external antenna 380, RF coupler 381, location device 384,processing circuitry 385, inductive charger 386 and wireless interface387 are configured substantially the same as discussed above for RFcommunication device 388A and as shown in FIG. 3C.

FIG. 3E shows an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for bistaticamplifier 382A that is employed by an RF communication device. Externalantenna 380A is arranged to simultaneously communicate upload anddownload RF wireless signals with a remotely located wireless basestation (not shown). Also, internal antenna 383A is arranged tosimultaneously communicate upload and download RF wireless signals witha CPE (not shown). Upload amplifier 391A is arranged to provide gain forthe upload RF wireless signal and download amplifier 392A is arranged toprovide gain for the download RF wireless signal. Additionally, RF powerdetector 390A is arranged to monitor a value of the power of the uploadRF wireless signal. Also, RF power detector 345A is arranged to monitora value of the power of the download RF wireless signal.

FIG. 3F illustrates an embodiment of a configuration of external antenna392 formed from an HMA that provides separate vertical and horizontalpolarization for both uplink and downlink RF signals.

FIG. 3G shows an embodiment of a configuration of external antenna 393formed from an HMA that provides combined vertical and horizontalpolarization for both uplink and downlink RF signals.

FIG. 3H illustrates an embodiment of a configuration of external antenna394 formed from patch antennas that provide combined vertical andhorizontal polarization and combined uplink and downlink communicationfor RF signals.

FIG. 3I shows an embodiment of RF isolation spacer 395 for isolating andreducing coupling between the upload and download RF wireless signalscommunicated by patch antennas 396 (positioned in ports 397) through abarrier such as glass. Also, a plurality of slits 398 are provided inspacer 395 to further reduce coupling. In one or more embodiments,spacer 395 is employed with an RF coupler (patch antennas used toseparately and continuous communicate upload and download RF signalsthrough the barrier) when the external antenna is located on an exteriorsurface of a barrier and the internal antenna is located on an interiorsurface of the barrier.

FIG. 3J illustrates a representation of a gain versus angle relationshipfor an external antenna when using a radome, a radome with WAIM, and noradome.

FIG. 3K shows an embodiment of an exemplary schematic for bi-directionalamplifier 382B that is employed by an RF communication device. Externalantenna 380B is arranged to communicate upload RF wireless signals anddownload RF wireless signals with a remotely located wireless basestation (not shown). Also, internal antenna 383B is arranged tocommunicate download RF wireless signals and upload RF wireless signalswith a CPE (not shown). Upload amplifier 391B is arranged to providegain for the upload RF wireless signal and download amplifier 392B isarranged to provide gain for the download RF wireless signal.Additionally, RF power detector 390B is arranged to monitor a value ofthe power of the upload RF wireless signal. Also, RF power detector 345Bis arranged to monitor another value of the power of the download RFwireless signal.

Moreover, upload/download switch control 342 is employed to control atiming of external facing three-way switch 343 and internal facingthree-way switch 344. In one or more embodiments, control 342 providesfor timing a continuous switching of switches 343 and 344 between twodifferent conductive states to share external antenna 380B and internalantenna 383B on a common communication path used by both the upload anddownload RF wireless signals. In one or more embodiments, the timing ofthe continuous switching of switch 343 and switch 344 may be staggeredto provide isolation of the upload and download RF wireless signals fromeach other while sharing the external antenna 380B and internal antenna383B on the common communication path. Furthermore, in one or moreembodiments, both external antenna 380B and internal antenna 383B mayinclude fewer components at least because they are shared in thecommunication of both the upload and download RF wireless signals.

Additionally, in one or more embodiments of the RF communication device,RF absorbent material may be added to on top of RF components todecrease RF feedback so that separate gains provided for the upload anddownload RF wireless signals communicated through a barrier may beoptimized.

Furthermore, in one or more embodiments of the RF communication device,the HMA may be characterized when optimizing gain to reduce closecoupling to adjacent RF components. Also, in one or more embodiments, again for the uplink RF wireless signal may be maximized due to arelatively long distance from the remotely located wireless basestation. In contrast, the RF communication device may be employed todetermine a distance away from the CPE and use that distance to reduce again of the download RF wireless signal communicated by the RFcommunication device to the CPE.

In one or more embodiments, the external antenna may employ the HMA toprovide composite HMA waveforms to compensate for objects affectingcommunication of the upload and download RF wireless signals with theremote wireless base stations. Also, in one or more embodiments, thecomposite HMA waveforms may be employed to multicast communication ofthe upload and download RF wireless signals with two or more remotewireless base stations.

In one or more embodiments, automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry isprovided to automatically adjust the separate gains provided for theupload RF wireless signal and the download RF wireless signal untilseparately selectable gains are determined that provide for optimalcommunication between the CPE and the RF communication device andbetween the remote wireless base station and the RF communicationdevice.

Generalized Operations

In FIG. 4A, a method is shown for employing the invention to communicatewireless signals through a barrier, such as a window in a structure, toone or more wireless computing devices and/or wired computing devicesbehind the barrier. Moving from a start block, the process advances toblock 402 where the RF communication device employs an external antenna,that includes an HMA, to adjust a shape and a direction of a beampattern of the HMA waveform to communicate upload and download RFwireless signals with one or more authorized remote base stations. Inone or more embodiments, adjustment of the HMA waveform may becontrolled out of band by a separate wireless communication channelwhich may employ 4G or less wireless communication protocols. At block404, optional RF couplers are disposed on opposite exterior and interiorsides of a barrier when an external antenna and an internal antenna arealso similarly positioned. The RF couplers are employed to communicate(upload and download) RF wireless signals through the barrier. However,in one or more embodiments when all of the substantive components of theRF communication device are disposed on an exterior surface or aninterior surface of a barrier instead of on both the interior andexterior surfaces, then the logic at block 404 for RF couplers would notbe applied.

At decision block 406, a determination is made as to whether the CPE isintegrated with the RF communication device. If the determination is no,then the process flows to block 408 where one or more amplifiers areemployed to separately provide gain to the upload and download RFwireless signals that are communicated through the window barrier.Moving to block 412, the upload and download RF wireless signals arecommunicated with one or more CPEs, which may further communicate withone or more wireless devices and/or wired devices located behind thebarrier and/or inside a structure.

At decision block 414, if a value of the power of the upload RF wirelesssignal is below a predetermined threshold and another value of the powerof the download RF wireless signal indicates a presence of communicationwith a remote wireless base station, the process loops back to block 402where the process resumes substantially the same actions. Alternatively,if the value of the power of the upload RF wireless signal is not lessthan the predetermined threshold and the other value of the power of thedownload RF wireless signal indicates the presence of communication withthe remote wireless base station, the process loops back to block 404and resumes substantially the same actions.

Alternatively, if the determination at decision block 406 is yes (one ormore CPEs are integrated with the RF communication device), then theupload and download RF wireless signals are communicated by the one ormore CPEs via one or more communication protocols to one or more of thewireless devices and/or wired devices disposed inside the structure.Next, the process advances to decision block 414 and resumessubstantially the same actions.

In FIG. 4B, a method is shown for employing the invention toautomatically determine when an authorized remote wireless base stationis in communication with the CPE. Because a value of the power of theupload RF wireless signals communicated by the RF communication deviceare significantly greater when the CPE is in communication with a remotebase station that is authorized for communication with the CPE andanother value of the power of the download RF wireless signals indicatesthe presence of communication with the remote wireless base station.Thus, when bistatic amplification is used for the upload and download RFwireless signals, this power value of the upload RF wireless signal maybe employed to detect authorized communication without having to furtheranalyze other characteristics or content of the upload RF wirelesssignal. Moving from a start block to block 420, the process monitors avalue of the power for the upload RF wireless signal while a bistaticamplifier simultaneously provides separately selectable gain to theupload and download RF wireless signals. At decision block 422, adetermination is made as to whether the power value of the upload RFwireless signal exceeds a predetermined threshold. If true, the processloops back to block 420. However, if the determination is false, thenthe process steps to block 424 where a shape and/or direction of an HMAwaveform provided by the external antenna's HMA is adjusted tocommunicate download and upload RF wireless signals with another remotewireless base station. Also, in one or more embodiments, control of theadjustment to the shape and/or direction of the HMA waveform iscontrolled remotely through an out of band communication channelemploying a 4G or less wireless communication protocol. Next, theprocess loops back to block 420, and performs substantially the sameactions.

Relay Based Network Architecture

In one or more embodiments, a physical distance that a base stationprovides 5G wireless communication to wireless communication devicesemployed by users is extended by the use of communication HMA devicesthat are similar to RF communication devices that employ HMAs for theirexternal antennas, but somewhat differently. FIG. 5 illustrates anexemplary embodiment that extends the physical distance that upload anddownload RF signals can be communicated between a remote base stationand an RF communication device by employing in between differentconfigurations of communication HMA devices. The RF communication devicetypically includes an external facing antenna that includes at least oneHMA which employs HMA waveforms to communicate by line of sight with aremote base station. In contrast, a communication HMA device includestwo or more HMAs and a corresponding controller that in addition toconfiguring HMA waveforms, it also is employed to configure differentcommunication modes of operation, including a relay HMA device, areflector HMA device, or a base station proxy HMA device.

In one or more embodiments, the communication HMA devices may typicallyconsume less than 50 watts of power, and these devices are able toreliably communicate HMA waveforms one kilometer or more between thenext HMA antenna. Also, the configuration of two or more HMAs can bearranged at different angles to each other, e.g., perpendicular, so thatcommunication of an HMA waveform can “bend” around a corner of astructure and/or avoid an occlusion to line of sight communication withother communication HMA devices and/or user HMA devices.

In one or more embodiments, a communication HMA device may be configuredto operate as a reflector HMA device that employs one HMA to communicatewith one or more RF communication devices positioned at relativelystatic physical locations. The reflector HMA device employs another HMAto communicate with one or more base stations, base station proxy HMAdevices, or relay HMA devices. In the reflector mode of operation, theHMA waveform received by the one or more user HMA devices is employed toprovide 5G wireless communication to users.

As shown in FIG. 5, illustrates an overview of system 500 forcommunicating data from one or more data centers 504 which employs oneor more network operations centers 502 to route the data to one or moreremote wireless base stations 508 that communicate the data in the formof RF wireless signals to one or more wireless communication devices(not shown). As shown, the data is communicated from one or more datacenters 504 and routed in part by one or more NOCs 502 over network 506to one or more remote wireless base stations 508 that wirelesslycommunicate the data with one or more RF communication devices 516, oneor more user wireless devices 518, and one or HMA communication devicesconfigured as one or more of relay devices 410, reflectors 512, and/orbase station proxies 514. Also, one or more client devices 505 mayexecute an app that provides remote analysis and control of the one ormore RF communication devices and/or different configurations of one ormore communication HMA devices.

Additionally, FIGS. 6A and 6B, show a communication HMA deviceconfigured as a reflector HMA device with controller 604 arranged tooperate HMA 602A to communicate RF wireless signals via HMA waveforms toother communication HMA devices and HMA 602B to communication RFwireless signals via HMA waveforms with a plurality of RF communicationdevices 606.

In one or more embodiments, a communication HMA device may be configuredto operate as a relay HMA device that employs one HMA to communicate RFsignals with a base station, base station proxy HMA device, a reflectorHMA device or another relay HMA device. And the relay HMA device employsanother HMA to communicate RF signals with another relay HMA devices, orreflector HMA device. In the relay mode of operation, an HMA waveform ofRF signals is generally “relayed” from one communication HMA device toanother communication HMA device in the network fabric until the RFsignals are communicated to its destination, i.e., one or more RFcommunication devices and/or one or more user wireless communicationdevices.

Additionally, FIGS. 7A and 7B, show a communication HMA deviceconfigured as a relay HMA device with controller 704 arranged to operateHMA 702A to communicate RF signals with HMA waveforms with anothercommunication HMA device 706 and HMA 702B to communicate RF signals withHMA waveforms with yet another communication HMA device 708.

In one or more embodiments, a communication HMA device may be configuredto operate as a base station proxy HMA device that employs one HMA tocommunicate with a base station, or another base station proxy HMAdevice. And the base station proxy HMA device employs another HMA tomultiplex communication of HMA waveforms with one or more othercommunication HMA devices that may be configured as one or more of relayHMA devices or reflector HMA devices, RF communication devices, and/oruser wireless communication devices.

Additionally, FIGS. 8A and 8B, show a communication HMA deviceconfigured as a base station proxy HMA device with controller 804 thatis arranged to operate HMA 802A to communicate RF signals with HMAwaveforms with a base station or another base station proxy HMA device806 and HMA 802B to multiplex communication of the RF signa HMAwaveforms with other communication HMA devices 808 e.g., reflector HMAdevices, relay HMA devices, RF communication devices, and/or userwireless communication devices.

In one or more embodiments, a plurality of communication HMA devices arephysically located on telephone poles, light poles, towers, structures,and the like, throughout a city, town, factory, industrial area, park,or the like. In one or more embodiments, a network fabric is formed bythe plurality of communication HMA devices arranged in a physical area,which can be dynamically controlled. The network fabric configurationprovides for dynamic real time load balancing, redundancy, andreconfiguration of communication modes of the HMA communication devicesto provide reliable and economical 5G wireless communication for usersof wireless communication devices, such as mobile phones, tablets,notebooks, vehicles or the like.

FIG. 9 illustrates a logical flow diagram of for an exemplary method ofemploying different types of HMA devices to communicate by HMA waveformsthrough a network fabric to one or more wireless computing devicescommunicating with a user HMA device that provides 5G wirelesscommunication for wireless communication devices.

Moving from a start block, the process advances to block 902 where abase station provisions for providing wireless communication with one ormore RF communication devices. Next, the process advances to decisionblock 904, where a determination is made as to whether direct HMAwaveform communication is available with one or more wirelesscommunication device users. If yes, the process advances to block 906where an HMA waveform provides 5g wireless communication with the user'swireless communication device.

Alternatively, if the determination at block 904 is false, the processadvances to block 908 where one or more communication HMA devices areconfigured as a relay, reflector, or base station proxy to provide HMAwaveform communication with a user HMA device that enables 5G wirelesscommunication with users' wireless devices. Next, if an occlusion, loadbalancing, or distance issue is identified that is affectingcommunication, the process loops back to decision block 904 where theprocess performs substantially the same actions in a dynamic real timemode of operation.

FIG. 10 illustrates a logical flow diagram of for exemplary method 1000for employing a value of power of an upload RF wireless signal todetermine communication with an authorized remote wireless base stationand customer premises equipment. Moving from a start block, the processadvances to block 1002 where a separately selectable (continuous) gainis provided to both an upload RF wireless signal and a download RFwireless signal. Next, the process steps to block 1004 where a value ofthe power of the upload RF wireless signal and another value of thepower of the download RF wireless signal is monitored.

Flowing to decision block 1006, a determination is made whether thepower value of the upload RF wireless signal meets a threshold value foraffirmative communication between an authorized remote wireless basestation and a CPE and the other power value of the download RF wirelesssignal indicates a presence of communication with a remote wireless basestation. If false, the process loops back to block 1002 to performsubstantially the same actions. However, if the determination at block1006 is true the process steps to block 1008 where the separatelyselectable gains for the upload and download RF wireless signals areadjusted to optimize communication between the CPE and the RFcommunication device and between the remote wireless base station andthe RF communication device.

Next, the process advances to block 1010 where optional adjustments to ashape and/or direction of the HMA waveform provided by the externalantenna are made to optimize communication of the upload and download RFwireless signals between the RF communication device and the remotewireless base station. Further, the process returns to performing otheractions.

Additionally, it will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations, (or actions explained above with regard to one or moresystems or combinations of systems) can be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These program instructions may be provided to aprocessor to produce a machine, such that the instructions, whichexecute on the processor, create means for implementing the actionsspecified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computer programinstructions may be executed by a processor to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed by the processor to produce acomputer-implemented process such that the instructions, which executeon the processor to provide steps for implementing the actions specifiedin the flowchart block or blocks. The computer program instructions mayalso cause at least some of the operational steps shown in the blocks ofthe flowcharts to be performed in parallel. Moreover, some of the stepsmay also be performed across more than one processor, such as mightarise in a multi-processor computer system. In addition, one or moreblocks or combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustration may alsobe performed concurrently with other blocks or combinations of blocks,or even in a different sequence than illustrated without departing fromthe scope or spirit of the invention.

Additionally, in one or more steps or blocks, may be implemented usingembedded logic hardware, such as, an Application Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Programmable ArrayLogic (PAL), or the like, or combination thereof, instead of a computerprogram. The embedded logic hardware may directly execute embedded logicto perform actions some or all of the actions in the one or more stepsor blocks. Also, in one or more embodiments (not shown in the figures),some or all of the actions of one or more of the steps or blocks may beperformed by a hardware microcontroller instead of a CPU. In one or moreembodiment, the microcontroller may directly execute its own embeddedlogic to perform actions and access its own internal memory and its ownexternal Input and Output Interfaces (e.g., hardware pins and/orwireless transceivers) to perform actions, such as System On a Chip(SOC), or the like.

The above specification, examples, and data provide a completedescription of the manufacture and use of the invention. Since manyembodiments of the invention can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claimshereinafter appended.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:
 1. A method for communicating RF wireless signalsbetween a remote wireless base station and customer premises equipment(CPE), comprising: employing an RF communication device to performactions, including: configuring one or more external antennas tocommunicate RF wireless signals with the remote wireless base station,wherein the configuration includes one or more of a direction or a shapeof a waveform provided by the one or more external antennas forcommunicating the RF wireless signals with the remote wireless basestation; employing one or more amplifiers to provide a separatelyselectable gain to an upload RF wireless signal and provide anotherseparately selectable gain to a download RF wireless signal, wherein theupload RF wireless signal is communicated to the remote wireless basestation and the one or more internal antennas are employed tocommunicate the download RF wireless signal with the other separate gainto the CPE; adjusting a scan impedance of the one or more externalantennas to improve communication by the one or more external antennasof the upload and download RF wireless signals through a barrier; and inresponse to a value of a power of the upload RF wireless signal meetinga threshold, determining that the CPE is in communication with anauthorized RF wireless base station, wherein the gain and the other gainare adjusted to improve communication of the upload and download RFwireless signals between the CPE and the authorized remote wireless basestation.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the CPE is incommunication with the authorized RF wireless base station furthercomprises, adjusting the one or more of the direction or the shape ofthe waveform to further improve communication of the upload and downloadRF signals with the authorized remote RF wireless base station.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein providing the separate gain and the otherseparate gain further comprises, employing a bi-static amplifier tosimultaneously provide separately selectable gains to the upload anddownload RF wireless signals.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinproviding the separate gain and the other separate gain furthercomprises, employing a bi-directional amplifier to provide separatelyselectable gains to the upload and download RF wireless signals.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the RF communication device performs furtheractions, including enabling one or more of an application or a web pageto enable a user to wirelessly communicate with the RF communicationdevice.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication deviceperforms further actions comprising employing one or more RF couplers tocommunicate the upload and download RF signals through the barrier,wherein the one or more RF couplers include near field couplers, glassfield couplers, or inductive couplers.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe RF communication device performs further actions comprisingemploying one or more arrays of patch antennas to communicate the uploadand download RF signals through a glass barrier, and wherein the one ormore arrays of patch antennas are slanted 35 to 60 degrees from anorientation of a communication path through the glass barrier to improveimpedance matching with the glass barrier during communication of theupload and download RF wireless signals.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the RF communication device performs further actions comprisingemploying automatic gain control to provide separately selectable gainsfor the upload and download RF wireless signals.
 9. The method of claim1, wherein the RF communication device performs further actionscomprising employing a radome that incorporates wide angle impedancematch material to increase the separate gains of the upload and downloadRF wireless signals communicated by the one or more external antennas.10. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication device performsfurther actions comprising employing an RF isolation spacer whensimultaneously communicating upload and download signals through thebarrier.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication deviceperforms further actions comprising employing the one or more CPEs tocommunicate the wireless signals in a communication format that iscompatible with one or more of a wireless communication device or awired communication device that is disposed on the interior side of thebarrier.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the RF communication deviceperforms further actions comprising positioning all of the components ofthe RF communication device on an exterior surface of the barrier,positioning all of the components of the RF communication device on aninterior surface of the barrier, or positioning a portion of thecomponents of the RF communication device on the exterior surface andpositioning another portion of the components of the RF communicationdevice on the interior surface.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein theRF communication device further comprises employing one or more lowpower electrical sources that include one or more of a solar cell,inductive charger, or a battery.
 14. An apparatus for communicating RFwireless signals with a remote wireless base station and customerpremises equipment (CPE), comprising: one or more external antennas; oneor more internal antennas; one or more amplifiers; and processingcircuitry that is arranged to perform actions, including: configuringthe one or more external antennas to communicate RF wireless signalswith the remote wireless base station, wherein the configurationincludes one or more of a direction or a shape of a waveform provided bythe one or more external antennas for communicating the RF wirelesssignals with the remote wireless base station; employing the one or moreamplifiers to provide a separately selectable gain to an upload RFwireless signal and provide another separately selectable gain to adownload RF wireless signal, wherein the upload RF wireless signal iscommunicated to the remote wireless base station and the one or moreinternal antennas are employed to communicate the download RF wirelesssignal with the other separate gain to the CPE; adjusting a scanimpedance of the one or more external antennas to improve communicationby the one or more external antennas of the upload and download RFwireless signals through a barrier; and in response to a value of apower of the upload RF wireless signal meeting a threshold, determiningthat the CPE is in communication with an authorized RF wireless basestation, wherein the gain and the other gain are separately adjusted toimprove communication of the upload and download RF wireless signalsbetween the CPE and the authorized remote wireless base station.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein determining the CPE is in communicationwith the authorized RF wireless base station further comprises,adjusting the one or more of the direction or the shape of the waveformto further improve communication of the upload and download RF signalswith the authorized remote RF wireless base station.
 16. The apparatusof claim 14, wherein the one or more amplifiers further comprise abi-static amplifier to simultaneously provide separately selectablegains to the upload and download RF wireless signals.
 17. The apparatusof claim 14, wherein the one or more amplifiers further comprise abi-directional amplifier to provide separately selectable gains to theupload and download RF wireless signals.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14,further comprising a wireless interface that enables a user to employone or more of an application or a web page to wirelessly communicatewith the apparatus.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein theprocessing circuitry performs further actions comprising employing oneor more RF couplers to communicate the upload and download RF signalsthrough the barrier, wherein the one or more RF couplers include nearfield couplers, glass field couplers, or inductive couplers.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein the processing circuitry performs furtheractions comprising employing one or more arrays of patch antennas tocommunicate the upload and download RF signals through a glass barrier,and wherein the one or more arrays of patch antennas are slanted 35 to60 degrees from an orientation of a communication path through the glassbarrier to improve impedance matching with the glass barrier duringcommunication of the upload and download RF wireless signals.
 21. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein the processing circuitry performs furtheractions comprising employing automatic gain control to provideseparately selectable gains for the upload and download RF wirelesssignals.
 22. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a radome thatincorporates wide angle impedance match material to increase theseparately selectable gains of the upload and download RF wirelesssignals communicated by the one or more external antennas.
 23. Theapparatus of claim 14, further comprising an RF isolation spacer whensimultaneously communicating upload and download RF signals through thebarrier.
 24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the RF communicationdevice performs further actions comprising employing the one or moreCPEs to communicate the wireless signals in a communication format thatis compatible with one or more of a wireless communication device or awired communication device that is disposed on the interior side of thebarrier.
 25. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising positioningall of the components of the RF communication device on an exteriorsurface of the barrier, positioning all of the components of the RFcommunication device on an interior surface of the barrier, orpositioning a portion of the components of the RF communication deviceon the exterior surface and positioning another portion of thecomponents of the RF communication device on the interior surface. 26.The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising one or more low powerelectrical sources that include one or more of a solar cell, inductivecharger, or a battery.
 27. A processor readable non-transitory storagemedium that includes instructions for communicating RF wireless signalsbetween a remote wireless base station and customer premises equipment(CPE), wherein execution of the instructions by processing circuitry ofan RF communication device, performs actions comprising: configuring oneor more external antennas to communicate RF wireless signals with theremote wireless base station, wherein the configuration includes one ormore of a direction or a shape of a waveform provided by the one or moreexternal antennas for communicating the RF wireless signals with theremote wireless base station; employing one or more amplifiers toprovide a separately selectable gain to an upload RF wireless signal andprovide another separately selectable gain to a download RF wirelesssignal, wherein the upload RF wireless signal is communicated to theremote wireless base station and the one or more internal antennas areemployed to communicate the download RF wireless signal with the otherseparate gain to the CPE; adjusting a scan impedance of the one or moreexternal antennas to improve communication by the one or more externalantennas of the upload and download RF wireless signals through abarrier; and in response to a value of a power of the upload RF wirelesssignal meeting a threshold, determining that the CPE is in communicationwith an authorized RF wireless base station, wherein the gain and theother gain are adjusted to improve communication of the upload anddownload RF wireless signals between the CPE and the authorized remotewireless base station.
 28. The processor readable non-transitory storagemedium of claim 27, wherein the actions further comprise one of:employing a bi-static amplifier to simultaneously provide separatelyselectable gains to the upload and download RF wireless signals; oremploying a bi-directional amplifier to provide separately selectablegains to the upload and download RF wireless signals.